Two Amazing Years

It almost doesn’t seem possible, that two years ago Wednesday we met our beautiful girl for the first time.

A lot has happened since that first (Gotcha) day and I guess we should have known from one of the first photos we ever had of her (even before we arrived in China) that Jacqueline was destined to be a jock. She loves sports and is a big Texas Rangers and Dallas Mavericks fan. She loves watching them with her oldest brother, Nathaniel, and her Baba. We are even convinced she was the lucky charm that helped the Rangers' to their first World Series appearance last October and the Mavericks' to their first NBA Championship this month.

She loves playing soccer with her friends from school on the "Red Hots" and has thoroughly enjoyed playing basketball for the first time this summer.

There have been so many things we have been blessed to witness as our girlie has blossomed over these two years. Violin, school, friends, family, church, sports and the list goes on.

We are looking forward to many more with sweet Jacqueline.

Then & Now - One Year Later!

June 2009/June 2010







with her Chinese little sister, Harbour Lian (Guangzhou/St.Louis)


precious E.V. in Guangzhou and with Ian in St. Louis

travel Group Guangzhou/reunion St.Louis

One year ago today we met our daughter. In so many ways, it seems as though she has always been with us. We feel like we have had front row seats to watch a miracle over the last year. Slowly she has learned to trust us. She has gained confidence and experienced unconditional love. We marvel at her resilience and her smile. We give thanks for God's faithfulness on this amazing journey. We give thanks for our precious friends and family who have travelled this road with us. We cannot wait to see what the future holds. We savor every day.

Jeremiah 14:13 I will give you assured peace in this place.

Ian Turns 10!!!! January 2010

Oh our precious preemie! How worried we were when my water broke early in January 2000. We thought we'd have a Valentine's baby, but you had other plans! We knew that you would be little and you were - 5 lb. 14 oz. Small, but perfect. 100% healthy and happy from day one - a true dream baby.

I wish when we were in the hospital worrying about if you might be small or delayed or have ongoing health issues, that I could have somehow seen a glimpse of your 10 year check up. "Right where he should be," said the pedi. "Perfect height (56.8 inches) and weight. (73 lbs). He's a very healthy boy."

Ian does well and school and plays the piano and will play baseball this spring. He is a phenomenal brother and friend. He goes out of his way to make sure people are included. Ian always invites the new kid at school to his birthday party. He is such a joy! Always smiling and happy and thinking of wonderful questions or silly sayings!

Speaking of, we had a fabulous robot party to celebrate turning 10. The boys (and Aves and Ping) made robots out of cans and other odd bits. They also made out-of-this-world tye dye shirts thanks to talented Grammy. We did a nuts and bolts relay race, got robot tattoos, and enjoyed a yummy robot cake and ice cream.

A great day to celebrate a wonderful boy. Our precious preemie is now in double-digits!!

New Year's Eve 2009

This year Brad had to work on New Year's Eve. Not that we had big plans anyway. I fixed a 'fancy' dinner at home for the kiddos - homemade chimichangas. We had a festive table complete with streamers, plastic champagne glasses and sparkling grape cider. The kids thought it was soooooo fancy!!

I asked each kiddo to share what their favorite thing of 2009 was. Football playoffs, trips to Six Flags and other fun topped the boys lists. When we got to sweet Jacqueline Mei, she looked up and very seriously said, "Mom and Dad." I told her getting her home was my favorite thing too!!

It doesn't get any better than that. Praise God for a miraculous 2009.

December 2009

We had a wonderful first Christmas season with our girl. She got a chance to meet her sweet cousins Pearl and Rose. I had Ping and Rosie in the van one day and Ping pointed to Rose and said, "Mama, I like 'dis friend!" Precious.

I wanted to capture a few memories before they slip away. Christmas Eve service at church. Me and our four kiddos, my Mom and John and Michelle and Pearl and Rosie. What a beautiful pew! The kids were coloring and looking all around and wiggling some. All of the sudden I looked over and sweet Jacqueline Mei (dressed to the nines in vibrant red organza with a black sweater) was asleep leaning on Grammy! Sweet, tired, girl! I had to carry her to the front for communion!

We had snow on Christmas Eve which was an unexpected gift for all of the kiddos!

Santa brought Jacqueline a violin. She is so proud of it and anxious to start lessons. She embraced each Christmas celebration with wide eyes and her beautiful bright smile. We say it all the time, but the thing that gives us the greatest joy is watching her be a normal, happy child. We are so blessed to be her parents.

Christmas Pageant - FUMC Arlington

Sweet Ian welcomes the crowd to the Christmas Pageant. He also had a solo.
See that precious angel on the far right? That's our girl!! She did a great job!
There's Gabey, the shepherd with the checks and the brown head scarf.

Ian and his peers lining up for their solos. Great job by the 'big kids'!
Precious Jacqueline Mei.
Gabe has his own shepherd style!

Nathaniel in the sixth grade live Nativity.

Mainstay Tree Farm Visit